Other Women's Jobs // A Day In The Life & Career Of Amreen Iqbal

NAME: Amreen Iqbal

AGE: 42

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @amreeniqbal or @pieceofyou.ae

JOB TITLE: Founder and CEO, Piece of You

MOVED TO THE UAE IN:1989

Amreen has always been fascinated by gems and jewellery since childhood as her father Firoz Merchant is a visionary Founder and Chairman of Pure Gold Group. Armed with a BBA Degree from University of Bath in England, Amreen returned to UAE in 2005 and quickly mastered every facet of her family’s business, be it design, communications or finance. Amreen eventually stepped into the role of the Director of Corporate Communications at Pure Gold Jewellers.

Fuelled with passion, Amreen loved designing personalized jewellery for her family and friends seamlessly blending delicate everyday items and crafting them into luxurious pieces. This led to opening her own business in 2017 - Piece of You. The brand has gained immense success with a worldwide customer base and is known for bespoke jewellery since then. With her creative flair and the unwavering support of her loved ones, Amreen is on a mission to bring joy through custom jewelry that resonates deeply with the heart, embodying her vision of personalized elegance and social responsibility, making both Piece of You and Amreen Iqbal internationally cherished and valued brands.

Deeply passionate about empowering women, she leads an all female team and prioritizes flexible support to help modern working moms thrive in their careers.

Today Amreen shares with us a typical day in her life and career:

5:00 AM – Peace Before the World Wakes Up

My day starts early — before the sun rises and before the house comes alive. This is my sacred hour. I begin with Fajr prayer, followed by a few quiet minutes of meditation and gratitude journaling. I usually write simple reminders: “I am blessed. My family is healthy.”

After prayer, I get into my workout clothes — yes, diamonds included! — and start a quick morning workout, usually a mix of weight training, stretching, or a walk on the treadmill. It’s my “me time,” where I reconnect with myself before the chaos begins.

By 6:15 AM, mom mode kicks in.

The kettle’s on, uniforms are out, and the house starts buzzing. I wake the kids — Zayed, Zeeana, Omar, and little Amara — each with their own pace and personality. The next hour is a mix of laughter, cereal bowls, missing socks, and endless energy. I drop all four to school and head straight to work, often using that drive to catch up on voice notes with my team.

8:30 AM – The Drive & Daily Briefs

While most people might use their morning drive to relax, mine turns into a mini boardroom. I start my day with updates from production, logistics, and design — everything from diamond approvals to order timelines. It’s my way of mentally organizing the day before I step into the studio.

10:00 AM – CEO Mode

Once I reach the Piece of You studio, I’m fully in work mode. My mornings are usually packed with team briefings, client meetings, and design reviews. I work closely with our artisans on CAD designs — tweaking details, balancing symmetry, or adjusting the placement of a diamond by a millimetre. It’s a fine balance between precision and emotion.

I also oversee photo and video shoots, ensuring every shot captures the soul of the brand — the emotion behind each piece. Some days I’m adjusting the lighting for a campaign; other days, I’m sitting with a client hearing the story behind a piece — a daughter gifting her mother, a couple celebrating an anniversary. These moments always remind me why I started Piece of You in the first place.

1:00 PM – The Quick Lunch (If You Can Call It That)

Lunch is… flexible. Some days it’s a salad at my desk; other days, just coffee and a protein bar. But the best days are when my team and I sit together, share a laugh, and talk about life beyond work. Those moments of sisterhood are what keep us going.

4:00 PM – Mom Mode, Again

By mid-afternoon, I switch gears back to motherhood. If the schedule allows, I pick up the kids from school — it’s one of my favourite parts of the day. If I can’t, I make sure I’m home soon after to hear all about their day. We go over homework, share snacks, and talk about everything from friends to science projects.

There are times I feel stretched thin, between an urgent shipment and a child needing help with math — but I remind myself that my kids are learning from what they see. They see a mother who dreams, works hard, and still shows up for bedtime stories.

6:00 PM – Evenings of Laughter and Chaos

Evenings are sacred family time. No meetings, no emails — just us. We play board games, go for a swim, or shoot hoops in the backyard. It’s loud, funny, messy, and full of love.

By 6:30 PM, dinner is on the table — a proper home-cooked meal, eaten together with no phones allowed. This is where we catch up, tell stories, and laugh over the little things. Some of my best design ideas come from these conversations — jewellery inspired by moments in our day to day life.

8:00 PM – Bedtime Routines & Storytime

After dinner, the kids begin winding down. Amara, my youngest, is already asleep by 7. The older three shower, change, and gather for bedtime stories or small talks. I tuck them in with a kiss, say a prayer with them, and remind them how loved they are.

10:00 PM – Quiet, Finally

Once the house is quiet, I check on final orders or respond to any urgent messages. Then, it’s time to unwind with my husband — sometimes we talk about the day, sometimes we watch a movie, and sometimes we just sit quietly, grateful and tired.

By 10 PM, lights are out and I say one last prayer of gratitude — for my family, my work, and another day well lived.

Closing Thought

My life is a constant juggle between family and business, but both feed each other in the most beautiful way. Piece of You was never meant to be just a brand — it’s a reflection of real life, real women, and real stories. And every day, whether I’m in the studio or at home, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live both roles — as a mother and a maker.